Team Aikido has been teaching leg grabs under the principle that the best real-world takedown artists are wrestlers.
Leg grab attacks, when applied correctly, are highly effective in breaking an opponent's base.
Once the opponent's foot-base is broken, use pin pressure to finish the DQ or combine the leg grab with a throwing technique.
The trade-off with every leg grab is that you will be vulnerable to direct damaging and decap's.
Therefore, failure to properly finish or transition from a leg grab commonly results in a point loss.
Always apply these basic methods with any single leg attack:
1. Secure your grips on Uke's leg and upper body (Uke's arm, pec, chest, or head)
2. Keep your COG lower than your opponent's.
3. Relax wrists to prevent self-injury.
4. Use persistent and explosive movement to drive the takedown.
Cross Pick (This is the only technique without graphics. If like pictures then continue to the next spoiler.)
Any "pick" technique refers to the simple action of precisely grabbing a limb on Uke.
The cross pick uses specialized grips to apply a simple but effective attack.
The goal is to achieve grabs that control your opponent's arm and leg on the SAME SIDE.
Ex: Grips on their right arm and right leg OR grips on their left arm and left leg.
With these grips applied it is impossible for the Uke to build a base on the controlled side.
Drive your opponent's controlled side into the floor for a very technical DQ.
Two basic ways to apply the cross pick:
1. Grip Uke's nearest arm then reach low and across to grip Uke's leg on the same side as the gripped arm.
2. Grip Uke's nearest leg then use a bent arm to reach across to grip Uke's arm on the same side as the gripped leg.
Study: Rousimar Paulhares
Here you see the "Tori" controls the Uke by wrapping his leg, and hooks his neck.
The attack begins by pulling down Uke's upper body while Tori's legs extend off the floor.
Once Tori's legs reach the peak of their extension he executes the full arm swap and whips the Uke in a half circle onto the floor.
Overturn Single
With leg and arm grips secured you keep your base low while contracting-elbows to pull Uke into you.
The inside leg extends to push off the floor while you begin the arm-swap with contracted-elbows.
At the peak of the leg extension, extend-elbow(s) (especially the leg grab) and contract-hip on the outside leg to pressure Uke into the floor.
Manipulate chest and pecs for max-effect.
Single Leg Half Throw
In the Single Leg Half Throw combo you first carry the Uke's weight over your hips.
While your legs push off the floor, rotate into the throw and execute the arm-swap.
Study: Dominick Cruz
Here the "Tori" controls Uke by hooking under his arm (underhook) and blocking Uke's knee with his hand.
Then Tori's hips are rotated to face the direction of the leg grab.
Uke is then being pushed to fall over his grabbed knee due to pressure from Tori's underhook.
While enforcing this pressure, Tori drives forward with his legs.
Knee Tap
You begin the knee tap by grabbing Uke's knee and opposite sided arm.
Set both legs back behind your COG and rotates your hips to face into the leg grab.
Then project the
leg grab towards the un-grabbed leg and the
arm grab towards the grabbed leg to unbalance Uke.
While keeping this pressure, extend-knees and drives Uke into the floor with your hips.
Study: Gary Kolat
The "Tori" controls the Uke with a leg wrap and hook around the Uke's COG.
Tori's feet are positioned just underneath Uke's COG but with some distance between them.
Tori then begins to arch back with bent knees and pointed toes while carrying Uke over Tori's hips.
Once Tori's back is almost parallel with the floor, he raises his shoulders and carries Uke over his head.
Single Leg Suplex
The single leg suplex starts by grabbing Uke's leg and grabbing Uke's upperbody or COG.
With lowered-shoulders and contracted-elbows, load Uke's weight on your hips.
After feet are placed under Uke's COG, extend-hips with bent knees (hold between contracted and extended knees).
As you fall backwards, extend-abs and raise-shoulders to carry Uke over your shoulder.
Manipulate chest, pecs, and lumbar to maximize the back arch suplex.
"Proper" Single Leg Suplex
With both arms lowered and his back parallel to the floor, Tori executes the suplex.
Leg Grab Defense
Sprawl
Active Posting
Kimura Drag (advanced)